Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about River Spring Estates (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for River Spring Estates. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Name Variations for River Spring Estates ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for River Spring Estates: River Spring Ests.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
River Spring Estates is located in Berrien County.
To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Berrien County: LaPorte (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Cass & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near River Spring Estates. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to River Spring Estates:
- Berrien County (The home county of River Spring Estates)
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Berrien Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Berrien Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Eau Claire
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hinchman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Hartman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hills Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hills Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Corners
- Snow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Snow is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow
- Shanghai Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Glendora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Baroda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bakertown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bakertown is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakertown
- Niles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Sumnerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Pokagon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Dowagiac
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- La Grange
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Edwardsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cassopolis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Brownsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Penn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Wakelee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jones
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Marcellus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Keeler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Hartford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Decatur
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Covert
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lawrence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Elkhart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Garden Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Dunlap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Hesston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Rolling Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Smith
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Michiana Shores
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- La Porte
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Long Beach
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- Pottawattamie Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pottawattamie Park is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottawattamie Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
- Kankakee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kankakee is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kankakee
- Trail Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Trail Creek is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,985 people
- Waterford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Waterford is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Roseland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Georgetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Zeigler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Granger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Carlisle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Bend
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Crumstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Mishawaka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gulivoire Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Nutwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Osceola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Lakeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to River Spring Estates, see our County-by-County Page for River Spring Estates.
Cemeteries Near River Spring Estates ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of River Spring Estates.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for River Spring Estates - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for River Spring Estates covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Colvin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Long Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Burke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sherwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Benton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Berrien Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- South Maple Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Boyle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Morris Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (225 more) ...
- Eau Claire Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Feather Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find River Spring Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of River Spring Estates.
These communities are listed based on their distance from River Spring Estates, with the one closest to River Spring Estates listed first.
- Berrien Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Fairland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Berrien Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Eau Claire
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hinchman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hartman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Glendora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Hollywood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hollywood is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Niles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Derby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Sodus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Dayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Pokagon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Naomi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around River Spring Estates. See our List of 1890's Communities around River Spring Estates.
Newspapers Published in River Spring Estates ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around River Spring Estates.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of River Spring Estates, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for River Spring Estates.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to River Spring Estates:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaPorte County
- Saint Joseph County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about River Spring Estates, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- River Spring Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |